Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-09-30
Friday, SEPTEMBER 80, 1857

The report of General BLACK, the
Commissioner Of Pensions, has just
been issued, anu shows that at the
close of the last fiscal year there were
4O6,O07 army aud navy pensioners on
the rolls. OF these 3O7 ,29S are actual
survivors of the war between the
States, the Mexican and the 1872 wars.
nearly Q hundred thousand being
widows and other relativesof deceased
soldiers. The amount annually dis
bursed to this army Of pensioners Is
yearly finy-three millions of dollars.
During last year the pension claiuis
allowed amounted TO over seventy
three million dollars, the difference
between the amount paid and the
annual values being due to fret pay
ments, including accrued and "ar.
rears." There WAS n net increase ~
the pension roll last year Of over forty
thous and names. The most curious
feature In the report, however, is the
figures relative to tue survivors OF the
wal of 1872. since 1871, when the
mt sct was passed providing Tor a
pension for them, nearly $4,000 claims
have csen filed by the survivors OF
the conflict. The men engaged IN that
struggle with England must have
been exceptionally young, hardy IA
vigorous. But the mortality among
them must nave been heavy In the
last six years for al the present tine
there are 1869 survivors OF that war
upon the rolls. When 1t is considered
that seventy-five years have elapsed
since then-whIcn Is far above the
average human life. and the limit To
which few men are spared-and that
at the least twenty years should be
added to that as their probable age ON
entering the service, II Is only reason
able TO suppose that their
anne will soon be but a memQ-
~ on the pension roll. Incredible
rs IL may seem, however, seventeen
original survivors claims were filed
during the last fiscal year, aid theie
are now on the rolls nearly loo
widows of those. who served in that
war. TIE is not 10 be- taken rs an
instance of the greater longevity Of
life on the female side. Being TO q
man jackson Democrats, all hand
some, hardy fellows, the simplest ex-
PLANTATION is that that number Of vet
Grams survived their first wives and
were eagerly snapped up by young
ones when pretty well on in years, of
which discrimination the aforesaid
young women are now In their old
age reaping the benefit in the shape
of y pension from "A grateful country.
1t Is to be said that republics are un-
grta full. but with this showing and
n fact that since 1861 the amount
paid for peLsions has been SsSS 4iO,-
29s this slur caunot be fiunA at one,
the greatest the sun ever shown upon.
In this liberal return to those who
risked their lives 10 their country's
service, the two parties have been
equally prompt in dealing with the
nations veterans. No other country
in the world can show q record Of
such unexampled generosity to its
soldiers and sailors and their surviv.
ing dependents rs this, aud the only
matter to regret iu this connection is
the painful reflection that there are
people in this country base enough
TO forge and enjoy the fruits Of fra I'D
ulent claims for pensions that have
been allowed, instances Of which are
coming . o light with too great fire.
quency for agreeable reflection Butte
Nina